Elkins Park, Pennsylvania

Elkins Park, Pennsylvania
Ogontz
Shoemakertown[1]
Census-designated place
Clockwise from top, Wall House, Cheltenham Twinning Fingerpost, Cheltenham EMS Building, Cheltenham Township Municipal Building, Township Police Headquarters sign on Old York Road, Beth Shalom Synagogue
Clockwise from top, Wall House, Cheltenham Twinning Fingerpost, Cheltenham EMS Building, Cheltenham Township Municipal Building, Township Police Headquarters sign on Old York Road, Beth Shalom Synagogue
Nickname: 
EP
Elkins Park, Pennsylvania is located in Pennsylvania
Elkins Park, Pennsylvania
Elkins Park, Pennsylvania
Location of Elkins Park in Pennsylvania
Elkins Park, Pennsylvania is located in the United States
Elkins Park, Pennsylvania
Elkins Park, Pennsylvania
Elkins Park, Pennsylvania (the United States)
Coordinates: 40°04′37″N 75°07′37″W / 40.07694°N 75.12694°W / 40.07694; -75.12694
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountyMontgomery
TownshipsAbington, Cheltenham
CommissionersAnn L. Rappoport (West)
Mitchell Zygmund-Felt (Central)
Brad M. Pransky (West)
Area
[2]
 • Total
1.74 sq mi (4.51 km2)
 • Land1.74 sq mi (4.51 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
157 ft (48 m)
Population
 (2020)[3]
 • Total
6,901
 • Density3,963.81/sq mi (1,530.18/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern Standard Time)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (Eastern Daylight Time)
ZIP Code
19027
Area codes215, 267 and 445
FIPS code42-23128

Elkins Park is an unincorporated community in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is split between Cheltenham and Abington Townships in the northern suburbs outside of Philadelphia, which it borders along Cheltenham Avenue roughly 7 miles (11 km) from Center City. The community is four station stops from Center City on Septa Regional Rail.[4] It was listed as a census-designated place prior to the 2020 census.

Historically, Elkins Park was home to Philadelphia's early 20th century business elite, among them John B. Stetson, John Wanamaker, Henry W. Breyer, Jay Cooke, William Lukens Elkins and Peter A.B. Widener. In the later 20th century, it was home to Ralph J. Roberts, co-founder of Comcast, as well as to the Gimbels family,[5] founders of the department store chain.

Today, it remains home to many gilded age mansions such as Lynnewood Hall, a 110-room, neoclassical estate, the Elkins Estate presently being restored as a hotel-spa, distillery and events center[6] and the Henry West Breyer Sr. House, the former residence of the ice cream magnate which now serves as the Cheltenham Township Municipal building.[7]

In 2018, New York Magazine described Elkins Park as "an old, elegant neighborhood of close-clustered homes".[8] It is notable for its varied architectural styles (among them: Modern, American colonial and Dutch colonial, Queen Anne, English Cottage and Tudor[9]) its wealth of homes designed by renowned 19th and 20th century architects such as Horace Trumbauer,[10] Louis Kahn[11] and Robert A.M. Stern[12] and its diversity of religious institutions. With six synagogues it also makes up the foundation of the "Old York Road Corridor" of the Philadelphia area Jewish community, supported by the approximately 25,000 Jews in the Cheltenham-Jenkintown-Abington region.[13] Seasonally Elkins Park hosts a variety of religious and cultural festivals such as the "Taste of Greece" food festival,[14] the Romanian food festival, the Serbian food festival, various Jewish festivals such as a multi-congregation Purim celebration, and arts festivals like "Arts in the Park".[15]

Though distinct communities, the neighborhoods of Melrose Park and historic La Mott share a postal code with Elkins Park.

  1. ^ "Elkins Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved April 22, 2008.
  2. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  3. ^ "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  4. ^ "SEPTA | Regional Rail Schedules". septa.org. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  5. ^ Lasky, Julie (June 27, 2018). "$925,000 Homes in Maryland, California and Pennsylvania". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
  6. ^ "Elkins Estate set for major renovation". PBS39 WLVT. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
  7. ^ "History – Cheltenham Township PA". cheltenhamtownship.org. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  8. ^ Brennan, William (February 21, 2018). "This Is the Worst Roommate Story You'll Ever Read". Intelligencer. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  9. ^ McQuate, Bridget (May 8, 2018). "Foursquare, Years to Go". Old House Journal Magazine. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  10. ^ "Trumbauer, Horace (1868 – 1938) – Philadelphia Architects and Buildings". philadelphiabuildings.org. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  11. ^ Romero, Melissa (August 15, 2017). "9 homes Louis Kahn designed in and around Philly". Curbed Philly. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  12. ^ Romero, Melissa (September 28, 2016). "Elkins Park apartment designed by a young Robert A.M. Stern asks $399K". Curbed Philly. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  13. ^ "Old York Road". Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
  14. ^ "Greek Food Fest". ANNUNCIATION / EVANGELISMOS. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  15. ^ "Arts in the Park / Parktoberfest · Friends of High School Park". Friends of High School Park. Retrieved September 14, 2021.